Abstract

The development of lithium air batteries is attractive because metallic anodes and oxygenbased
cathodes are used. Oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) at the cathode in lithium air
batteries is important in the control of electrolytic cell performance. However, even with the
aid of platinum-based and commonly used noble metal catalysts, ORR still shows slow
kinetics. In this current study, nitrogen-doped carbon materials were prepared by the post
doping technique in which NH3 and N2 gas were used as nitrogen precursors. Additionally,
ball-milling was performed on the materials to increase porosity. Morphological, geometric
and crystallographic characteristics of all the developed carbon materials were examined by
field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), transmission electron microscopy
(TEM), Xeray diffraction (XRD) spectroscopy, Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface areas
analysis method, Xeray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR)
spectroscopy and Raman spectroscopy were employed to examine the chemical composition
and nitrogen doping. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) and rotating ringedisk electrode (RRDE)
techniques were used to study electrocatalytic properties of the materials. Results obtained
revealed that synthesized and ball-milled N-doped carbon black, (MN CB), N-doped Ketjen
Black (MN KB), Carbon Black and Ketjen Black blend (MN B) show pure, mesoporous
structures with higher surface area than undoped samples. In comparison with commercial
platinum alloy (Pt/C), electrocatalytic activity for ORR improved with Nedoping and
ball-milling.